Injury list grows but time to heal

Published 4:00 am, Monday, October 27, 2008

If the 49ers were not heading into their bye week, the injuries they sustained in Sunday's loss to Seattle might be more troublesome. As it is, this reeling team does not play again until two weeks from tonight in Arizona.

Right tackle Barry Sims injured an ankle early in the second quarter and limped off the field, not to return. Adam Snyder, who usually starts at left guard, did not start. He replaced Sims at right tackle and played the remainder of the game.

Tight end Delanie Walkerwas the next to leave, with an injured elbow in the second quarter. With him went San Francisco's best receiving option at tight end; Walker had a 53-yard catch-and-run in the first quarter, the longest reception of his career.

Return man Allen Rossuminjured his hamstring in the third quarter, and wide receiver Arnaz Battle hurt his right foot in the fourth period. Neither player returned. There was no immediate word on the conditions of any injured players.

In praise of Gore: Where the 49ers would be without running back Frank Goreis not something the team would care to ponder. Against the Seahawks, Gore had the ball in his hands 25 times and produced 159 yards. He rushed 18 times for 94 yards for a 5.2-yard average and caught seven passes for 65, with a long gainer of 24.

For the season, Gore has 940 yards from scrimmage on 629 yards rushing and 311 receiving.

Rice rumor: A report by Adam Schefter on the NFL Network said that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had expressed interest in an executive job with the 49ers, possibly as president of the team.

Before Sunday's game, a highly placed team source dismissed the idea that she would be coming on board. The source said it was possible Rice made an overture and that vice president Jed York, mostly as a matter of courtesy, would be willing to listen.

Team spokesman Aaron Salkin called the report an unsubstantiated rumor and said: "We have our structure in place with (chief operating officer) Andy Dolich and (general manager) Scot McCloughan."

A football fan and former Stanford provost, Rice has said her dream job would be NFL commissioner.

Dean honored: The 49ers will present their newest Hall of Fame inductee, defensive end Fred Dean, with his HOF ring in a halftime ceremony at the Dec. 7 game against the Jets.

More honors: At halftime Sunday, the 49ers paid tribute to the players on the field for the greatest goal-line stand in team history when the Cincinnati Bengals were repelled in Super Bowl XVI. Nine members of that stand were feted.

Keena Turner, a linebacker who won four Super Bowls with the 49ers, remembered the fourth-down play when the 49ers kept running back Pete Johnsonout of the end zone.

"We got great penetration from everyone and there was nowhere to go." Turner said.

Briefly: Seattle linebacker Lofa Tatupuleft in the first half with a groin injury and did not return. ... Second-year wide receiver Jason Hillcaught the first touchdown pass of his career on a 2-yard toss from Shaun Hillin the fourth quarter.